Pasture Management for Western North Dakota Project No. 1906 Complementary Rotation Grazing System in Western North Dakota Llewellyn L. Manske, Thomas J. Conlon and James L. Nelson Introduction: Complementary grazing uses domesticated grass, legume or annual crop pastures to add to or complement native range pastures. Management of native range and domesticated grass pastures must be based on sound ecological principles that consider the growth and development of the dominant species and the physiological needs, weaknesses and strengths of the plants to maintain productive stands. The nutritional needs of the livestock must be included in management considerations. Sound management recommendations can only be based on reliable scientific research. Procedures: The present complementary rotation grazing system has been in place at the ranch headquarters of the Dickinson Experiment Station since 1983. It consists of a crested wheatgrass (Agropyron desertorum) pasture for spring grazing and an altai wildrye (Elymus angustus) pasture for fall and early winter grazing. Native range has been grazed during the summer and managed with a three pasture, twice over rotation system. The intended purpose of the trial is to maximize herbage and livestock production for a cow-calf operation, lengthen the grazing season in the spring and fall, improve range condition of native range, and reduce total acreage required to carry a cow and calf. The intention is to accomplish these goals with a low number of pastures with few rotation times and be flexible enough to be adapted by a wide range of livestock operations. This type of grazing system should improve operation efficiency, reduce costs and decrease labor per unit of production, and increase saleable production per acre. Data collected on the pastures in this study are above ground herbage production, plant species composition, leaf height measurements and phenological phases of eight major graminoid species, and animal weight performance. Commercial crossbred cattle are used in this trial. Results and Discussion: Condition of the pastures has improved since the beginning of this study. Plant species composition (Table 1) has improved and herbage production (Table 2) has generally improved in relation to environmental conditions. Stocking rate (Table 3) has been increased annually as condition of the pastures improved. 1
Animal weight performance in the first four years of this study have been very good on crested wheatgrass grazed from early May to early June (Table 4). Average cow weight gains have been 3.06 lbs./day and 110.3 lbs./acre. Average calf weight gains have been 2.03 lbs./day and 74.2 lbs./acre. Cows were generally in very good condition coming off the crested wheatgrass and going onto native range in early June. Cow average weight gains were 0.59 lbs./day and 7.4 lbs./acre on native range (Table 4). Cows on the three pasture, twice over rotation grazing system did not lose weight after July as previously experienced on pastures grazed season long (Manske et al. 1984). Loss of weight was delayed until late September or early October. In 1986, this loss of weight by the cows started earlier than previous years in September. Cows were left on the native range until mid October. Calves generally have not experienced any decrease in weight gains during the period that the cows experienced weight loss, except in 1986. Calf gains had a decrease in weight gains in late September. Calf average weight gains have been 2.12 lbs./day and 26.4 lbs./acre on this native range grazing system in the first four years of the study (Table 4). Cows and calves were moved to an altai wildrye pasture in mid October. No problems in grazing altai wildrye have occurred during the early period of mid October to mid November. Early gains by cows on altai wildrye were high and considered to be, in part, compensatory after coming off the native range with a couple weeks of weight reduction. Average daily gain for cows has been 0.87 lbs./day for the period of mid October to mid November. Average calf gains were 1.50 lbs./day for the same period. Problems have developed on altai wildrye during the grazing period after mid November. In 1984, calves were left with the cows until 3 December. The cows lost 1.67 lbs./day between mid November and weaning. After weaning, dry cows maintained their weight with a slight gain of 0.13 lbs./day until 31 December. Calf gain between mid November and 3 December was not very good at 0.84 lbs./day. As a result, it is recommended that calves be weaned before 15 November. In 1985, calves were weaned 12 November with the intent of leaving the dry cows on the altai wildrye as long as weather would permit. An early winter snow storm occurred in November and the cows were fed hay. The cows did not go out and graze the altai wildrye after this single feeding. They lost an average of 7.54 lbs./day from 12 November to 2 December. In 1986, the calves were weaned 10 November. The cows generally lost weight on altai wildrye from 17 October to 12 December. The cows gained weight from 12 December to 29 December while a protein supplement was provided. Summary: The management of this complementary rotation grazing system has been based on ecological principles that consider the physiological needs, weaknesses, and strengths of the dominant plant species. Consideration of the nutritional needs of the livestock have been incorporated. Season of use of each pasture type was limited to periods of grazing when the detrimental effects of grazing were minimized and the potential for improvement in animal weight performance was maximized to near potential. Effort has been made to limit the number of pastures and rotation times to the minimum. One pasture of crested wheatgrass was used for spring grazing. A second pasture may be necessary to move the starting date earlier. The native range was managed with three pastures, each grazed two times during the grazing season. One pasture of altai wildrye was used in this system for fall and early winter grazing. The grazing season has been lengthened from the traditional 6 months to 7.1 months. This system has the potential to lengthen the grazing season to 8.4 months with additional research. The acreage required to carry a cow and calf was reduced from 24.4 acres for 6 months to 11.6 acres for 7.1 months. 2
By using a complementary rotation grazing system similar to the one at the Dickinson Experiment Station, livestock producers have the potential to: lengthen the grazing season, reduce the acreage required to feed a cow and calf, and increase the amount of saleable beef produced from each livestock unit. Literature Cited: Manske, L.L., J.L. Nelson, P.E. Nyren, D.G. Landblom, and T.J. Conlon. 1984. Complementary Grazing System, 1978-1982. Proceedings North Dakota Chapter of the Society for Range Management. Dickinson, North Dakota. Pp 37-50. Table 1. Total Percent Basal Cover for Native Range Pastures Dickinson Experiment Station, 1982 and 1984 Live Vegetation Litter Soil 1982 30 54 16 1984 36 63 1 3
Table 2. Above Ground Herbage Production for Crested Wheatgrass, Native Range and Altai Wildrye Pastures, Dickinson Experiment Station, 1983-1986 Lbs./Acre 1983 1984 1985 1986 Crested Wheatgrass 1663 1661 2142 3467 Native Range Clayey (18%) Sandy (26%) Shallow (28%) Silty (18%) 1337 1416 1084 1618 1142 1231 884 1413 1701 1976 1277 1901 1918 1928 1479 2022 Altai Wildrye 2020 4058 4115 5284 Table 3. Stocking Rate for Crested Wheatgrass, Native Range and Altai Wildrye Pastures Dickinson Experiment Station, 1983-1986 Acres/AUM S.C.S. Recommended 1983 1984 1985 1986 # Cow-calf pairs 13 16 19 24 26 Crested Wheatgrass 0.83 0.90 0.72 0.90 Native Range 4.07 3.33 2.75 2.10 1.97 Altai Wildrye 2.70 0.63 0.84 0.48 4
Table 4. Average Daily Gain per Head (ADG) and Gain per Acre (G/A) for Cows and Calves Grazing Crested Wheatgrass, Native Range and Altai Wildrye Pastures, Dickinson Experiment Station, 1983-1986 Crested Wheatgrass Native Range Altai Wildrye System ADG G/A ADG G/A ADG G/A ADG G/A 1983: Cow 2.65 97.9 0.82 7.4 0.51 5.7 1.10 11.4 Calf 1.76 65.0 2.21 19.9 1.52 17.0 2.06 21.7 1984: Cow 3.11 105.3 0.25 2.8 0.02 1.0 0.46 7.4 Calf 2.14 72.4 1.96 21.7 1.16 35.3 1.81 25.5 1985: Cow 2.20 93.4 0.50 7.3-1.90-68.4 0.17 3.1 Calf 1.88 79.8 1.99 28.9 2.58 51.6 2.05 33.7 1986: Cow 4.26 144.7 0.78 12.0-1.03-65.2 0.46 10.0 Calf 2.34 79.5 2.30 35.2 0.49 10.1 2.06 34.9 Mean: Cow 3.06 110.3 0.59 7.4-0.60-31.7 0.55 8.0 Calf 2.03 74.2 2.12 26.4 1.44 28.5 2.00 29.0 5
Animal Performance Data for the 1986 Complementary Grazing System SYSTEM: WEST COWS AND BULL Weigh Dates PASTURE OFF: FEEDLOT CRESTED 3 1 5 3 1 5 ALTAI ALTAI ALTAI PASTURE ON: CRESTED 3 1 5 3 1 5 ALTAI ALTAI ALTAI ALTAI COW # CALF # 13-May-86 30-May-86 16-Jun-86 01-Jul-86 31-Jul-86 29-Aug-86 30-Sep-86 17-Oct-86 10-Nov-86 12-Dec-86 29-Dec-86 B 032 650 1073 1122 1232 1198 1233 1342 1337 1286 1272 1169 1184 B 913 608 1105 1224 1353 1355 1335 1430 1359 1349 1273 1243 1269 H 929 601 963 1045 1081 1124 1117 1189 1134 1071 1061 977 1028 B 938 681 1143 1227 1264 1303 1300 1358 1262 1238 1180 1090 1122 B 961 6548 1000 1175 1198 1227 1250 1298 1210 1213 1136 1093 1123 B 962 6549 940 1050 1134 1143 1170 1197 1140 1129 1083 1036 1040 B 1002 670 997 1087 1151 1178 1160 1235 1162 1119 1091 1046 1075 B 1018 666 1031 1096 1228 1250 1289 1318 1230 1199 1185 1098 1125 B 1036 6545 1060 1158 1181 1242 1233 1328 1294 1285 1219 1134 1138 B 1039 6523 980 1096 1138 1177 1210 1285 1214 1197 1178 1070 1122 B 1085 664 940 1051 1113 1153 1150 1230 1197 1183 1161 1100 1119 B 1099 621 1032 1119 1211 1260 1294 1363 1290 1231 1221 1147 1180 B 1103 6501 852 922 999 982 1040 1069 1039 1014 983 932 946 B 1140 660 899 982 1068 1078 1138 1080 1134 1138 1046 968 1006 H 2024 627 1015 1090 1161 1075 1239 1293 1248 1241 1167 1094 1148 H 2036 604 1000 1126 1185 1176 1200 1268 1259 1219 1157 1060 1148 B 2044 645 825 924 982 1042 1091 1130 1111 1084 1033 985 1034 B 2061 656 1111 1209 1255 1292 1342 1418 1395 1370 1341 1255 1266 B 2092 6555 1000 1045 1146 1216 1260 1331 1299 1282 1244 1170 1175 B 2097 655 1047 1200 1222 1267 1305 1411 1341 1316 1264 1182 1192 B 3X5 30 855 862 960 937 977 1035 1030 1008 993 940 963 B 3X9 51 982 1014 1080 1096 1109 1215 1149 1115 1080 1023 1026 B 3X51 11 976 1030 1086 1076 1100 1188 1141 1126 1114 1038 1075 B 3X54 6029 983 990 1096 1148 1122 1221 1162 1136 1100 1067 1049 B 3522 8 896 912 1029 952 1062 1145 1040 999 968 955 974 B 3534 661 1030 1138 1245 1216 1307 1365 1360 1338 1298 1220 1245 Bull 13 1300 1310 Number of animals: 26.00 26.00 26.00 26.00 26.00 26.00 26.00 26.00 26.00 26.00 26.00 Number of acres: 13.00 75.00 85.00 80.00 75.00 85.00 80.00 30.00 30.00 30.00 Days from start: 17.00 34.00 49.00 79.00 108.00 140.00 157.00 181.00 213.00 230.00 Days for period: 17.00 17.00 15.00 30.00 29.00 32.00 17.00 24.00 32.00 17.00 AUM s: COWS 14.49 14.49 12.79 25.57 24.72 27.28 14.49 20.46 27.28 14.49 AUM/Acre: 1.11 0.19 0.15 0.32 0.33 0.32 0.18 0.68 0.91 0.48 Weight (lbs.): Total 25735.00 27894.00 29798.00 30163.00 31033.00 32742.00 31537.00 30886.00 29848.00 28092.00 28772.00 Mean 989.81 1072.85 1146.08 1160.12 1193.58 1259.31 1212.96 1187.92 1148.00 1080.46 1106.62 Gain: Total (start) 2159.00 4063.00 4428.00 5298.00 7007.00 5802.00 5151.00 4113.00 2357.00 3037.00 Mean 83.04 156.27 170.31 203.77 269.50 223.15 198.12 158.19 90.65 116.81 Total (period) 2159.00 1904.00 365.00 870.00 1709.00-1205.00-651.00-1038.00-1756.00 680.00 Mean 83.04 73.23 14.04 33.46 65.73-46.35-25.04-39.92-67.54 26.15 ADG: Mean (start) 4.88 4.60 3.48 2.58 2.50 1.59 1.26 0.87 0.43 0.51 (period) 4.88 4.31 0.94 1.12 2.27-1.45-1.47-1.66-2.11 1.54 Gain/acre: (period) 166.08 25.39 4.29 10.88 22.79-14.18-8.14-34.60-58.53 22.67 Gain/acre/day: (period) 9.77 1.49 0.29 0.36 0.79-0.44-0.48-1.44-1.83 1.33 6
Animal Performance Data for the 1986 Complementary Grazing System SYSTEM: WEST CALVES Weigh Dates PASTURE OFF: FEEDLOT CRESTED 3 1 5 3 1 5 ALTAI PASTURE ON: CRESTED 3 1 5 3 1 5 ALTAI ALTAI COW # CALF # 13-May-86 30-May-86 16-Jun-86 01-Jul-86 31-Jul-86 29-Aug-86 30-Sep-86 17-Oct-86 10-Nov-86 8 198 259 322 349 445 561 605 601 626 11 158 201 251 264 310 395 432 441 465 30 146 185 237 258 325 398 467 476 500 51 115 158 203 235 294 397 445 450 493 601 200 236 310 332 418 516 572 577 591 604 204 250 320 348 429 536 613 617 653 608 187 230 292 324 408 496 573 607 609 621 173 216 272 290 359 454 512 539 542 627 148 187 247 275 356 455 533 573 552 645 159 197 259 300 370 490 575 582 543 650 168 212 265 301 374 455 500 534 559 655 161 197 247 264 313 393 453 486 475 656 128 158 195 217 270 345 407 437 440 660 147 184 242 265 327 412 476 497 452 661 117 145 189 202 245 327 377 400 412 664 144 172 225 248 322 407 468 500 505 666 164 207 266 300 370 454 521 538 558 670 129 156 213 228 293 365 425 453 450 681 90 126 185 211 283 367 438 465 469 6029 163 200 245 269 322 411 475 477 499 6501 170 205 258 284 356 431 496 534 546 6523 157 193 246 275 340 414 472 495 491 6545 137 167 218 236 297 362 422 445 449 6548 166 204 261 286 384 476 544 568 590 6549 145 179 231 257 325 400 466 489 501 6555 125 167 215 222 264 322 356 342 350 Number of animals: 26.00 26.00 26.00 26.00 26.00 26.00 26.00 26.00 26.00 Number of acres: 13.00 75.00 85.00 80.00 75.00 85.00 80.00 30.00 Days from start: 17.00 34.00 49.00 79.00 108.00 140.00 157.00 181.00 Days for period: 17.00 17.00 15.00 30.00 29.00 32.00 17.00 24.00 AUM s: COWS 14.49 14.49 12.79 25.57 24.72 27.28 14.49 20.46 AUM/Acre: 1.11 0.19 0.15 0.32 0.33 0.32 0.18 0.68 Weight (lbs.): Total 3999.00 4991.00 6414.00 7040.00 8799.00 11039.00 12623.00 13123.00 13320.00 Mean 153.81 191.96 246.69 270.77 338.42 424.58 485.50 504.73 512.31 Gain: Total (start) 992.00 2415.00 3041.00 4800.00 7040.00 8624.00 9124.00 9321.00 Mean 38.15 92.88 116.96 184.62 270.77 331.69 350.92 358.50 Total (period) 992.00 1423.00 626.00 1759.00 2240.00 1584.00 500.00 197.00 Mean 38.15 54.73 24.08 67.65 86.15 60.92 19.23 7.58 ADG: Mean (start) 2.24 2.73 2.39 2.34 2.51 2.37 2.24 1.98 (period) 2.24 3.22 1.61 2.26 2.97 1.90 1.13 0.32 Gain/acre: (period) 76.31 18.97 7.36 21.99 29.87 18.64 6.25 6.57 Gain/acre/day: (period) 4.49 1.12 0.49 0.73 1.03 0.58 0.37 0.27 7
Animal Performance Data for the 1986 Complementary Grazing System SYSTEM: EAST COWS AND BULL Weigh Dates PASTURE OFF: FEEDLOT CRESTED 4 2 6 4 2 6 ALTAI ALTAI ALTAI PASTURE ON: CRESTED 4 2 6 4 2 6 ALTAI ALTAI ALTAI ALTAI COW # CALF # 13-May-86 30-May-86 16-Jun-86 01-Jul-86 31-Jul-86 29-Aug-86 30-Sep-86 17-Oct-86 10-Nov-86 12-Dec-86 29-Dec-86 B 029 6539 1131 1182 1267 1325 1330 1382 1343 1323 1294 1245 1218 B 902 605 1200 1283 1390 1288 1397 1470 1420 1387 1359 1266 1312 B 911 6556 875 1002 1040 1055 1045 1141 1029 1006 1050 1040 1047 B 917 651 1025 1073 1150 1192 1213 1222 1198 1168 1180 1122 1118 B 923 634 992 1072 1141 1195 1149 1180 1137 1140 1104 1068 1074 H 935 624 1039 1055 1138 1184 1223 1246 1198 1177 1104 1094 1100 B 948 609 1045 1106 1177 1223 1242 1301 1236 1206 1174 1080 1089 B 1011 674 1037 1115 1183 1256 1273 1310 1258 1208 1151 1101 1085 B 1033 6503 998 1084 1207 1205 1143 1292 1228 1192 1195 1130 1155 B 1037 6561 955 1029 1111 1160 1203 1249 1194 1156 1144 1093 1093 B 1047 682 1175 1247 1315 1308 1300 1405 1358 1312 1308 1225 1223 B 1111 667 869 955 1012 1068 1111 1153 1090 1057 1052 983 983 B 1119 654 891 980 1020 1050 1062 1093 1075 1060 1025 984 994 B 2007 642 1165 1242 1307 1330 1343 1400 1377 1302 1324 1241 1278 H 2015 637 1076 1113 1175 1244 1264 1355 1353 1288 1301 1231 1245 B 2025 631 986 1062 1134 1195 1247 1245 1225 1221 1109 1007 980 B 2038 6510 922 1000 1086 1112 1133 1176 1135 1094 1109 1060 1035 B 2096 668 807 852 903 964 982 1028 995 996 960 939 942 B 3X15 6016 853 903 1019 992 1000 1054 1018 979 1000 948 960 B 3X21 35 972 1015 1054 1112 1106 1195 1121 1141 1126 1050 1042 B 3X22 33 900 921 1024 1017 1060 1082 1058 1050 1044 982 994 B 3X57 44 905 934 1007 977 1056 1077 1024 1026 1009 975 980 B 3X59 6017 1172 1188 1242 1271 1310 1370 1360 1344 1333 1245 1238 B 3X69 615 912 1039 1067 1075 1113 1148 1117 1083 1094 1047 1055 B 3515 43 1147 1187 1272 1280 1304 1349 1314 1312 1259 1225 1225 B 3521 18 998 1012 1057 1093 1105 1124 1105 1113 1113 1052 1086 Bull 11 1190 1229 Number of animals: 26.00 26.00 26.00 26.00 26.00 26.00 26.00 26.00 26.00 26.00 26.00 Number of acres: 13.00 13.00 75.00 80.00 80.00 75.00 80.00 80.00 30.00 30.00 30.00 Days from start: 17.00 34.00 49.00 79.00 108.00 140.00 157.00 181.00 213.00 230.00 Days for period: 17.00 17.00 15.00 30.00 29.00 32.00 17.00 24.00 32.00 17.00 AUM s: COWS 14.49 14.49 12.79 25.57 24.72 27.28 14.49 20.46 27.28 14.49 AUM/Acre: 1.11 0.19 0.16 0.32 0.33 0.34 0.18 0.68 0.91 0.48 Weight (lbs.): Total 26047.00 27651.00 29498.00 30171.00 30714.00 32047.00 30966.00 30341.00 29921.00 28433.00 28551.00 Mean 1001.81 1063.50 1134.54 1160.42 1181.31 1232.58 1191.00 1166.96 1150.81 1093.58 1098.12 Gain: Total (start) 1604.00 3451.00 4124.00 4667.00 6000.00 4919.00 4294.00 3874.00 2386.00 2504.00 Mean 61.69 132.73 158.62 179.50 230.77 189.19 165.15 149.00 91.77 96.31 Total (period) 1604.00 1847.00 673.00 543.00 1333.00-1081.00-625.00-420.00-1488.00 118.00 Mean 61.69 71.04 25.88 20.88 51.27-41.58-24.04-16.15-57.23 4.54 ADG: Mean (start) 3.63 3.90 3.24 2.27 2.14 1.35 1.05 0.82 0.43 0.42 (period) 3.63 4.18 1.73 0.70 1.77-1.30-1.41-0.67-1.79 0.27 Gain/acre: (period) 123.38 24.63 8.41 6.79 17.77-13.51-7.81-14.00-49.60 3.93 Gain/acre/day: (period) 7.26 1.45 0.56 0.23 0.61-0.42-0.46-0.58-1.55 0.23 8
Animal Performance Data for the 1986 Complementary Grazing System SYSTEM: EAST CALVES Weigh Dates PASTURE OFF: FEEDLOT CRESTED 4 2 6 4 2 6 ALTAI PASTURE ON: CRESTED 4 2 6 4 2 6 ALTAI ALTAI COW # CALF # 13-May-86 30-May-86 16-Jun-86 01-Jul-86 31-Jul-86 29-Aug-86 30-Sep-86 17-Oct-86 10-Nov-86 18 201 250 308 342 424 514 569 614 607 33 159 184 245 278 348 440 491 522 520 35 173 216 271 300 372 461 530 567 571 43 160 212 266 293 382 481 565 600 635 44 137 161 200 217 274 342 395 408 430 605 200 237 290 320 399 497 541 578 585 609 179 222 285 306 404 498 567 589 608 615 161 210 265 299 372 474 540 569 566 624 175 229 278 315 414 497 573 623 636 631 181 227 287 307 384 473 525 546 558 634 199 253 320 363 450 537 604 620 641 637 170 217 275 300 355 456 527 554 562 642 174 221 288 323 410 510 572 608 627 651 170 212 269 294 376 456 531 536 570 654 152 189 237 265 336 426 485 510 520 667 152 201 246 288 355 447 516 538 538 668 134 167 183 232 301 382 457 478 502 674 138 172 231 261 347 432 512 518 555 682 110 147 197 216 290 362 415 417 445 6016 147 197 253 285 353 441 500 531 554 6017 121 149 182 200 230 283 330 333 339 6503 164 192 231 268 333 425 474 496 519 6510 184 231 288 323 400 498 561 588 581 6539 147 188 234 264 330 411 479 479 522 6556 123 172 229 266 345 425 497 493 521 6561 148 177 227 258 330 422 485 519 532 Number of animals: 26.00 26.00 26.00 26.00 26.00 26.00 26.00 26.00 26.00 Number of acres: 13.00 75.00 80.00 80.00 75.00 80.00 80.00 30.00 Days from start: 17.00 34.00 49.00 79.00 108.00 140.00 157.00 181.00 Days for period: 17.00 17.00 15.00 30.00 29.00 32.00 17.00 24.00 AUM s: COWS 14.49 14.49 12.79 25.57 24.72 27.28 14.49 20.46 AUM/Acre: 1.11 0.19 0.16 0.32 0.33 0.34 0.18 0.68 Weight (lbs.): Total 4159.00 5233.00 6585.00 7383.00 9314.00 11590.00 13241.00 13834.00 14244.00 Mean 159.96 201.27 253.27 283.96 358.23 445.77 509.27 532.08 547.85 Gain: Total (start) 1074.00 2426.00 3224.00 5155.00 7431.00 9082.00 9675.00 10085.00 Mean 41.31 93.31 124.00 198.27 285.81 349.31 372.12 387.88 Total (period) 1074.00 1352.00 798.00 1931.00 2276.00 1651.00 593.00 410.00 Mean 41.31 52.00 30.69 74.27 87.54 63.50 22.81 15.77 ADG: Mean (start) 2.43 2.74 2.53 2.51 2.65 2.50 2.37 2.14 (period) 2.43 3.06 2.05 2.48 3.02 1.98 1.34 0.66 Gain/acre: (period) 82.62 18.03 9.98 24.14 30.35 20.64 7.41 13.67 Gain/acre/day: (period) 4.86 1.06 0.67 0.80 1.05 0.64 0.44 0.57 9